With the Lawrence brothers snaring plenty of attention for their outstanding performances and results in the US championships, it’s easy to forget Australia also has a large contingent of riders based in Europe and chasing world championship glory. Jed Beaton, Wilson Todd, Mitch Evans and Bailey Malkiewicz are all competing in the motocross GPs and flying the Aussie flag with pride.
All of these riders parked their comfortable careers in Australia, packed up their gear bags and headed to Europe to challenge themselves and chase a childhood dream. None of them capture the limelight in the same way as a teenage phenom like Jett Lawrence, but all of them work hard, are talented athletes and are experiencing a culture and a lifestyle unlike anything they have experienced before.
Each of these riders has made huge sacrifices in their lives to race at this level, and not just in terms of the physical effort required. They have left families, homes and familiar surroundings at a young age for little more than a hope and a dream. And that dream can end at any minute. Don’t also think that because of where they are racing, that money is the driving factor. Many of these riders could earn more money racing here in Australia, but they elected to take on the world, be the best they could be and live an adventure. A few weeks or months on a couch as they find their feet isn’t going to stop them.
Let’s take a look at their journey in Europe.
JED BEATON
Beaton had just come off victory at the MX Nationals onboard his DPH Yamaha in
